Matchday Programme 2018 Season £2

v | Sat 3rd February 2018 | Ladbrokes OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME £2 MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE HONOURS

President BARLA National Cup Winners: Dave Corless 1974-75, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1981-82 BARLA Lancashire Cup Winners: Vice President 1974:74, 1976-77, 1978-79, 1980-81 Derek Cross BARLA Inter County Cup Winners: Chairman 1980-81 Ralph Rawsthorne North West Counties Premier Cup Winners: 2007-08, 2010-11, 2011-12 Vice Chairman North West Counties Champions: Dave Roughley 1977-78, 1979-80 Club Secretary North West Counties Div 1 Champions: Billy Dillon 1975-76, 1985-86, 1991-92, 2004-05 07879 662940 Warrington & District League Champions: 1973-74 Treasurer Warrington & District League Leaders: Andy Lyons 1968-69 Youth & Junior Development Director St.Helens Junior League Champions: Neil Belshaw 1953-54 St,Helens Junior League Leaders: Club Registration Manager 1951-52, 1953-54 Joanne Knapper St.Helens Cup Winners: Club Welfare Officer 1980-81, 1985-86, 2010-11 Gary Trueman West Lancs League Trophy Winners: 1953-54 07816 509995 Bootle Charity Cup Winners: Discipline Chairman 1953-54 Gary Philbin BARLA John Players 7s Winners: Junior Representative 1982 Haresfinch 7s Winners: Brian Hatton 2007 School Liaison Manager North West Counties Fair Play Award Ste Edgerton 2005/06 Fundraising Managers Kevin Whittall CONTACT US

Sarah Whittall @pilksrecsarlfc Player Representative Paul Cresswell /pilkingtonrecs

www.pilkigntonrecs.org

CHAIRMANS WELCOME Good afternoon and welcome to the next round and I know the to Ruskin Drive for this sec- coaching staff will have run them ond round game of The Lad- through their drills. Thornhill will be brokes Challenge Cup. out to take the spoils and secure It gives me great pleasure to wel- their place in the next round too, so come our opponents today, Thorn- it promises to be a great spectacle hill Trojans, who have made the of . journey from the I would like to pay thanks to our hotbed area of Rugby league. hard working committee who work Thornhill are a vibrant club with a hard behind the scenes in managing strong youth and junior set of teams the club business, thanks also to our and when you look at their track rec- sponsors for their continued support ord in this competition they are no of the club. Thanks also to all our strangers to taking on opposition spectators who I hope will be en- from the professional code. couraging the team on to win. Final- The season got under way a few ly a big thanks to all the players and weeks ago in round one when we coaches at all age groups who give took on Wallsend Eagles making the their time and efforts for the club. long trek up to Tyneside but running Enjoy the game, support your re- out comfortable winners against a spective team and applaud good plucky Eagles outfit. Thornhill in rugby and always spare a thought their draw faced the shorter journey for the officials without whom we to East Leeds but also came would not have a game. through as convincing winners. Come on THE RECS!! Today’s game promises to be a Yours in sport great curtain raiser for the National Conference League Division one Ralph E. Rawsthorne season as both clubs will meet up Chairman again in the league one competition. Recs will be out to progress through

• All spectators are requested to remain behind the pitch side spectator barriers • Inside the ground perimeter fence is strictly a No Smoking Area at all times • No dogs are allowed inside the ground • Please use waste bins provided to dispose of your litter

Finest Quality Pork Sausage Cooked Meats & Pies 01744 22738 Lock Street, off Merton Bank Road St. Helens, WA9 1HS ALEX SERVICE ADVERT TODAY’S VISITORS We welcome Thorn- Hull KR in 1995. The with 1,500 fans present. hill Trojans to Rus- search for a big name Cup hopes ended at kin Drive today in ‘scalp’ went on: Swinton Keighley Cougars, how- what is sure to be [1996] eve,r with a 34-6 loss. a real cracking [1997] and Dewsbury in The club has enjoyed match. As we shall 1998 all triumphed over some good times in the see later, despite the lads from Dewsbury. Conference and we look their relatively late But then that big mo- forward to renewing formation, they ment arrived. At the be- their acquaintance back have created their ginning of 2000, Thorn- here on 12th June and in own particular hill, then struggling in Dewsbury on 16th June niche in the Chal- the Premier Division when we meet in the lenge Cup competi- relegation zone, trav- First Division when vital tion. elled to league points will be at According to the club’s and pulled off the shock stake. Over the years excellent website, of the round by winning the club has produced Thornhill ARLFC was 16-14 against the men many fine players for formed in 1988 at a who, two years before, the professional game. meeting held at Thorn- had beaten Wigan to lift Names that we most hill Edge Club, attended the trophy! They did it certainly recognise, like by Thornhill Gate Offi- again, in 2006, when Bernard Watson, John- cials, players and sup- Workington Town fell 16 ny Harpin, the one and porters along with -12 at Ram Stadium, only Lee Gilmour, Dan- Thornhill Lees Juniors Dewsbury. The reward ny Brough, Paul Sykes, parents and officials. for this was a trip to Alex Bretherton and Previously to that, Rug- France to play Catalan Paul and David March. by League in the Thorn- Dragons [lost 0-66] at As the TTARLFC web- hill area had been Stade Jean Laffon in site emphasises: “A lot played under the Perpignan. There was of this is down to people Overthorpe Rangers another engaging match who put in many hours and Gate Inn Banner. in 2007 when Trojans of voluntary work to pro- The club started with played host to Russian duce a game which is Overthorpe Sports Club outfit Strela Kazan in character building and as headquarters and the Carnegie Challenge makes young people after much hard work it Cup at Overthorpe Park aware of life.” was made into an ap- propriate base for the club. They applied for Nation- al Conference member- ship in 1994 and their fine record in the Chal- lenge Cup began in ear- nest, with a tie against THINK YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY? Alex Service talks about different as- pects of our club which was first formed in 1878! Same Team, Different Code! The famous Recs have played three codes of foot- ball during their long exist- ence: Rugby Union, Associ- Winger Jack ‘Durdock’ Wilson’s medals from the professional rugby league era between the wars: Lancashire Cup and Lancashire League. ation Football and, of course Rugby League, the est in the game are re- the 1890s, with cup ties latter at semi-professional, quested to attend a prelimi- and leagues being intro- as well as amateur level! nary meeting to be held at duced. Yet the ‘bosses’ at In the early 1870s, William the Fleece Hotel on Pilkingtons did not allow the Douglas Herman, the new Wednesday the 19th. No- club to partake in such Head Chemist at Pilking- vember 1873 at 7.30p.m." matches. There had been a bit of bother, you see. In ton’s Crown Glassworks This proved to be the kick one match against Wigan wanted to establish a rugby start for what became the at City Road, the visiting club in St. Helens. He Saints. In 1878, however, captain was hit across the looked initially to his work- there was sufficient interest face with a dead rat, mates, but this came to to form a rugby club at the amongst other things! So it nothing. Had it succeeded, glassworks itself and St. was not for them! Mean- the first team in the town Helens Recreation was while, the Saints, who were would probably have been born, playing matches at now playing on a new pitch the equivalent of the Recs! Boundary Road. Gradually, at had be- Undeterred, his next course by the 1880s, both the come Lancashire Second of action was to place an Saints and the Recs grew Division Champions and advertisement in the St. in strength and established were on the ‘up’. There was Helens Newspaper calling strong fixture lists, as well also a huge issue of broken a meeting at a local hostel- as providing a unique time about to cause a huge ry, the Fleece Hotel, for ‘derby’ clash for local sup- schism in the game itself. anyone interested in form- porters of rugby. They were

ing a club: "It is proposed to feisty occasions and there form a football club for St. was also the opportunity to Continued later in Programme…….. Helens and neighbourhood. take part in football of a

Gentlemen taking an inter- more competitive nature by

COACHES CORNER So the new season is upon us off in the last round as the players and we welcome back all the looked to be a lot fitter than at the spectators to Ruskin Drive for same point last year and as a coach todays Challenge Cup tie. the desire to defend was pleasing to Whilst our opponents today, Thornhill, see. are unknown to us, we can be sure Whilst the quality of the opposition in they will prove a stern test, and will Wallsend was not necessarily the certainly be familiar to use by the end highest, the old adage of you can on- of the season as we will meet them in ly play what’s in front of you comes to the league after they had a fantastic mind, and their were plenty of encour- season last year being automatically aging signs for the season ahead. promoted from division 2. For those that made the journey to As for our 2017 season, the less said the North East in the last round I about that the better. It has, however, would like to thank you for making the given the lads a real puupose this long trip, it is always appreciated. year as they came back to pre- Finally, thanks to the committee for season earlier than normal to make once again grafting behind the right the wrongs of last year. scenes to make all this possible. That early start seems to be paying

PLAYER PROFILE JON KEY Date of Birth 22/01/1995 Last year we spoke with Height 6’ 2” “Keyze” who was so popu- lar we thought we would Weight 96kg catch up with him again. Debut Portico (a) 2013 Jon, What is you best rugby NCL Games 66 memory? Being part of the team that NCL Tries 7 beat was good. And then the experience NCL Points 24 of Halifax in the next round, but that didn’t go so well Twitter @Keyze11

Who is your best teammate and why? I can’t chose between Ry and Chiz, they are my boys.

Speaking of Chiz, he’s in love now. How has that impacted you friendship? It’s not too bad really, she lets him out the house every now and again. Just don’t see him on Sundays anymore. Just me and Ry go for brekkie now

You told us last time you were a spud picker, do you do any other veg? Well, when it’s winter we do a lot of packing of spuds and broccoli. In the summer we pick Spuds, Collies, Kale, Sprouts, loads of other veg.

You’ve told us your best teammates, but who is the laziest trainer in the squad? Ermmm….. Jamie Smith, Most talented but lazy trainer.

Do you still consider yourself to be the weirdest member of the team? No. It’s definitely the 3 Grant brothers.

Finally, is Nikki still your dream woman? No, I’d say it’s Rachel Riley, although Greg picked her as well. Nikki is with Chris Smith now.

THINK YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY?

Continued…….. North West sent their reserve teams to play at City Road…Everton, Liverpool, History tells us that in 1895 the Saints Manchester City…which as you can took the professional route, whereby imagine was quite an attraction. The players were compensated for loss of football money was also used to de- employment money if they played the velop City Road and build dressing game. Unfortunately the ‘split’ had an rooms and a grandstand, but even this unfortunate effect on the Recs. They was destined not to last. found that many of the In 1914, the club returned to Northern clubs on Union, this time, in semi-professional their fixture terms, and were admitted to the list had league after the end of the First World War and another new chapter was joined the about to unravel. St. Helens Recs won new league the Lancashire Cup before the Saints and were did too, but it didn’t last. After a memo- forced to rable twenty years for local sport in St. organise a Helens, having two teams in the town somewhat was no longer a viable proposition. ‘watered Faced with large losses, Pilkingtons A trade card for the original rugby down’ se- no longer subsidised the Recs and union Recs. Notice the Red and ries of they ‘went under’ at the end of the white colours! 1938-39 campaign. The Saints could matches. In easily have done the same! It was the end, the top brass decided to join then, ten years later, that a bunch of the new Northern Union, in 1897, but it stalwarts resurrected the old club un- had to be in the second tier. Interest der the Pilkington Recreation banner, faded and it was then decided by the which is effectively the make-up of our Pilkington workforce to go over to foot- club today. The big change, of course, ball, which had seen enormous growth is the move away from our spiritual in the town at the turn of the century. home of City Road. But what a fantas- We will look at the round ball game in tic historical legacy we have, with al- most 70 years in the amateur game more detail at a later date, but suffice alone. Long may it continue! to say, this proved to be extremely popular as the team were admitted You can read about Recs’ history in into the Lancashire Combination and every home programme this year. this meant that the top teams in the A TEAM FIXTURES Date Comp Home Or Opponents Result Away 3rd February-18 Friendly Home Thatto Heath B 8 - 22 L 11th February-18

3rd March-18 League Home A 10th March-18 League Away Walney Central 17th March-17 League Away A 24th March-18 League Home HIndpool Tigers 31st March-18 Easter Weekend

7th April-18 League Away A 14th April-18 League Away Halton Simms Cross 21st April-18 League Away Latchford Albion 28th April-18 League Home Widnes Tigers

5th May-18 League Home Haresfinch 12th May-18 League Away Hindpool Tigers 19th May-18 26th May-18 League Home Leigh Miners Rangers A

2nd June-18 League Away Wigan St Patricks A 9th June-18 League Home Walney Central 16th June-18 League Home Rochdale Mayfield A 23rd June-18 30th June-18 League Away Widnes Tigers

7th July-18 League Home Simms Cross 14th July-18 21st July-18 28th August-18

4th August-18 11th August-18 Nines Comp 18th August-18 Nines Comp 25th August-18 Challenge Cup Weekend

1st September-18 League Away Haresfinch 8th September-18 League Home Latchford Albion 15th September-18 22nd September-18 29th September-18 1st TEAM FIXTURES Date Comp Home Or Opponents Result Away 27th January-18 C/Cup Away Wallsend Eagles 6 - 42 W 11th February-18

3rd March-18 10th March-18 League Away Leigh Miners Rangers 17th March-17 League Home 24th March-18 League Away Skirlaugh 31st March-18 Easter Weekend

7th April-18 League Away 14th April-18 League Home York Acorn 21st April-18 League Home Milford Marlins 28th April-18 League Away

5th May-18 12th May-18 League Away Thornhill Trojans 19th May-18 League Away Lock Lane 26th March-18

2nd June-18 League Home 9th June-18 League Away Shaw Cross Sharks 16th June-18 League Home Thornhill Trojans 23rd June-18 30th June-18 League Home Skirlaugh

7th July-18 League Away Milford Marlins 14th July-18 League Home Lock Lane 21st July-18 League Home Oulton Raiders 28th August-18

4th August-18 League Away York Acorn 11th August-18 League Home Shaw Cross Sharks 18th August-18 League Away Bradford Dudley Hill 25th August-18 Challenge Cup Weekend

1st September-18 League Home Featherstone Lions 8th September-18 League Away Ince Rose Bridge 15th September-18 League Home Leigh Miners Rangers 22nd September-18 29th September-18

PILKINGTON RECS THORNHILL TROJANS

1. Ryan Hilliard 1. George Woodcock 2. Kyran Knapper 2. Sam Ratcliffe 3. Andy Nisbet 3. Will Gledhil 4. Jon Frodsham 4. Andrew Lambert 5. Jake Hodson 5. Joss Ratcliffe 6. Tom Roughley 6. Liam Morley 7. Danny Lynch 7. Luke Carter 8. Jon Key 8. Tom Gledhill 9. Ryan Liptrot 9. Will Poching 10. Mike Garrity 10. Anthony Harris 11. Tez Riley 11. George Stott 12. Luke Riley 12. Wayne Wilson 13. Jono Peers 13. Scott Green 14. Phil Riley 14. Josh Clough 15. Chris Clayton 15. Liam Green 16. Mark Briody 16. Ben Kendall 17. Chris Smith 17. Jonathan Hellings 18. Lee Smith

Coaches Officials Coaches John Rees James Jones James Ratcliffe Liam Bostock Phil Rigby Jake Wilson Ste Edgerton Innes Arnold Scott Dyson Physio Thomas Codman Gary Trueman Physio Richard Sedgwick